Device for raising and lowering electric or other lights



(No Model.)

D. B. MATSON.

DEVICE FOR RAISING AND LOWERING ELECTR 10 OR OTHER LIGHTS.

N0. 439,023. Patented Oct. 21, 1890.

nrlltlilld zz/x A/A/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID B. MATSON, OF XVATKINS, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO RACHEL I. SMITH, OF OATLIN, NE? YORK.

DEVICE FOR RAISING AND LOWERING ELECTRIC OR OTHER LIGHTS.

SJPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,023, dated October 21, 1890.

Application filed November 4, 1889. Serial No. 329,123. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID B. MATSON, of \Vatkins, in the county of Schuyler and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Raising and Lowering Electric or other Lights; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin devices for raising and lowering electric and I 5 other lamps; and it consists in the arrangement and combination of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The objects of my invention are to place contact-points upon the hollow arm so as to make contact with the points upon the lamp, and thus adapt the lamp to be cut out of the circuit by lowering it below a certain point;

to provide a mechanism by means of which the arm can be swung around from across the street to any desired point, and to so construct the parts that the lamp is prevented from swaying while in operation.

Figure l is a side elevation of an apparatus which embodies my invention, the parts being shown partly in section. Figs. 2, 3, and at are detail views. Fig. 5 is a detached viewof the upper end of the post and the inner end of the arm and showing the relative positions of the two sets of inclines.

5 A represents a hollow post or standard of any desired height or construction, and which has its upperedge formed into two inclinesB for the purpose of swinging the hollow arm 0 through a portion of a circle. The hollow arm C will be of any desired size and length, and is provided with a hollow tenon D, which will fit more or less snugly inside of the top of the hollow post A, and which is provided with a suitable number of friction-rollers E at its upper end, which rest upon the inclines B for the purpose of causing the arm to turn more readily and freely than it otherwise would. Placed upon this tenon at or near its lower end are suitable friction-rollers F, which bear against the inner side of the top of the post A, and both serve to center the tenon and to cause the parts to move more freely than they otherwise would. This tenon is made of any desired length, and it projects down into the top of the post A sufficiently far to have its lower end come in contact with the ring G, which is pivoted inside of the post, as shown. Connected to the opposite edge or side of this ring G from the hook or hinge is a connecting-rod H, which is pivoted at its lower end 6o to a short socket I, which projects through the side of the post A, and into which a suitable handle is placed for the purpose of operating the socket and the ring whenever it is desired to have the arm C, carrying the lamp, swung around through a portion of a circle. The handle or lever is intended to be carried around by the operator and is never left in position in its socket, thus making it impossible for any one to turn the arm 0 partial'ly around unless they are provided with a handle or lever for that purpose. Upon the top of the ring G, which is provided with a small hook which extends through a hole near the top of the post A, and both supports the ring in position and serves as a hinge upon which it turns, are placed two friction-rollers J. As shown in Fig. 5, when the arm 0 is extending out over the street the rollers E at the top of the post are at the bottom of the inclines B, and the rollers J upon. the ring G are at the points of theinclinesK, which are formed on the lower end of the tenon. \Vhen the ring G is raised by means of the rod H, the tenon D is raised, so that the weight of the arm and 8 5 tenon are upon the rollers J, journaled upon the ring G, which was before upon the rollers E. The rollers J upon the ring resting on the points of the inclines K, which are formed upon the lower end of the tenon, it will be 0 apparent from Fig. 5 that when the ring G is raised and the weight of the tenon and arm supported therebythe tenon will be caused to revolve by reason of the inclines which run around upon the rollers J. As the tenon 5 is raised and from its own weight is caused to revolve, the rollers E run up the inclines at the upper end of the post; but when the ring is lowered and the weight of the tenon and arm is supported by the rollers E, resting upon the inclines B at the top of the post, the said rollers run down the inclines, thus revolving the tenon and turning the arm back to its proper position over the street, so that as soon as it is desired that the arm shall be returned to its normal position it is only necessary to lower the ring G, when the roll ers E will run down the inclines B, and the lowed to return to its position the arm (J will return to its position across the street. The mechanism here shown and described for operating the arm 0 is entirely independent of all the other parts, and is only brought into play when it is desired to swing the arm around, over, or toward the sidewalk.

Journaled in opposite ends of the arm C are the sprocket-wheels L, over which the supporting-chain M passes, the chain having the electric lamp N secured to one end and the weight 0 secured to the other. This weight *0 is intended to be heavier than the lamp, in position, and thus through the medium of the construction here shown throw it into the circuit whenever the lamp is left free to move. 'Heretofore-weights have been used in connection with the elevating-chain; but the weights have been made lighter than the lamps, freely over the sprocket wheels or pulleys. I make the weight '0 heavier than the lamp, so as to return the lamp to position when it is left free to move and to hold it positively in the circuit. Connected with either oneof the sprocket-wheels 'L is a ratchet-wheel P and a pawl Q, for the purpose of holding the lamp suspended in any desired position, either for the purpose of cutting it out of the circuit-or for holding it in any desired position while the lamp is being cleaned, repaired, or provided with new carbons.

"The ratchet-wheel P may be'provi-ded with one, two, or more teeth, with which the pawl Q engages, and just in advance-of each tooth R is provided-a conical projection S, of such a shape that if the ratchet-wheel P is made to rapidly revolve this projection S will strike against the pawl Q and force it outward far enough from the periphery of the wheel P to allow the tooth R to slip past under the pawl before the pawl has time to return to the edge-0t the wheel. If the wheelPis'made to slowly revolve, then the projection S does not throw or force the pawl Q outward "suiticiently far to allow the tooth R to slip past,

for then the pawl simply slips over the projection S and catches in the tooth R. The operator in operating the lamp stands upon the ground and reaches up to thelamp and so that it will always return the lamp and only used to make the chain run catches his hook, stick, or rod in the bail T or any other fixture which is formed on the lower end of the lamp for that purpose and draws the lamp downward toward him. After he has finished with the lamp by giving it a short quick jerk and allowing the lamp then to rise rapidly upward it is returned to position by means of the weight 0, the operator only guiding or controlling its upward movement.

The wheels or pulleys, the chain, and the weight are all inclosed, as shown, so as to pro tect them from snow and ice during winter and to prevent persons from tampering with the lamp in any manner. Through the side of the post is made a suitable openingU, through which access can be had to the weight at any time, either for the purpose of removing it, replacing it, or to add to or take from the weight, as may be found necessary. Where the weights are placed outside of the post, the chain, wire, or cord becomes clogged with ice and snow during the winter, so as to make the lamp difiicult to operate, and it is left in position where persons can tamper with the weight, if they so desire.

Secured to the outer end of the arm 0 are the two vertical sockets V, which are preferably made bell-shaped at their lower ends, and to the upper ends of these sockets, which will be of any desired construction, are attached the two conducting-wires. Upon the top of the electric light N are formed two projections or conducting-rods W, which are made to fit snugly inside of thesockets V, and to which rods or projections Ware connected the wires which conduct the electricity to the two carbons in the usual manner. These rods or projections W tit snugly inside of the sockets V, both so as "to make an electric connection therewith and to prevent the lamp N from swaying or having any movement during wind-storms. As soon as the lamp is drawn downward to a certain point the electrical contact is broken and the lamp is out out of the circuit, so that the operator is perfectly free to handle the lamp in any way that he sees fit. If it is desired to cut the lamp out of the circuit it is only necessary to draw it downward a slight distance, and then the pawl and ratchet will hold it in that position as long as desired. The two sockets V and the two projections are preferably braced or strengthened together by cross pieces, as shown.

The lower portion of the lamp-frame is conne-cted together by a plate or-casting X, which forms a support for the lower carbon. The globe of the lamp is supported upon a verticall y-movi-ng plate Y, which slidesf-reely upon the hangeror rod Z, which extends downward from the casting X. The plate Y can be sup ported in position against the under side of the casting X by means of a-setscrew or it can be allowed to descend, carrying the globe with it to the lowerend of the rod Z, and thus allow free access to the carbons. As here shown, the bail T is attached to the lower end of this rod Z; but this construction is not at all necessary, because the bail may be attached to other parts of the lamp, if so desired.

I do not limit myself to any precise construction of the parts, for this may be varied at will without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Instead of conducting-rods W,tubes with the wires running up through and projecting at their upper ends, so as to make connection with the main wire at the mast-arm, may be used. If the wires are buried,-they will pass up through the post and the arm and may be inclosed in a small pipe which extends through the post, so that the weight will not disturb the insulation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of a hollow standard, the hollow arm provided with a tenon which extends down into the top of the standard or post and having inclined planes formed in its lower end, a movable ring or collar supported in the post and provided with rollers upon which the inclined planes on the lower end of the tenon rest, and a mechanism for raising the ring or collar at one side, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a hollow post, provided with inclined planes upon its upper end, the hollow arm provided with friction-rollers to move upon the inclined planes and having a tenon which extends down into the top of the post or standard and which has its lower end formed into inclined planes, a movable ring or collar placed inside of the post and provided with friction-rollers, and an operating mechanism for raising the plate or collar, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device for raising and lowering electric and other lights, the combination of the hollow post, a hollow arm extending outward therefrom, provided with a vertical tenon which extends down into the top of the post, a cord or chain which extends through the arm and tenon and secured to the lamp, and a means connected with the tenon for revolving it, whereby the arm is turned through a portion of a circle without affecting the lamp in any manner, substantially as shown.

4. The combination of the standard, the hollow arm, the guiding wheels or pulleys, the counter-weight connected to one end of the chain and the lamp connected to the other, the long vertical sockets which form contactpoints, connected to the arm and the long vertical contact-points connected to the lamp, which enter the said sockets and prevent the lamp from swinging, substantially as shown.

5. The combination of the hollow post, the hollow arm, the guiding pulleys or wheels, the chain having the lamp attached to one end and the counter-weight to the other, a pawl and ratchet, the contact-points upon the arm, and the contactpoints upon the lamp, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID B. MATSON.

Witnesses:

E. P. ELLIS, F. A. LEHMANN. 

